IVORY TOWERS & DRESSED STONES. Vol3. Peakland

When travelling around the countryside have you ever wondered about that strange looking tower on the hill, or that romantically picturesque temple hiding in the trees? Who built it, when and why? Can it be visited? And if so, can I get to it? So ran the preamble to my two volume series of walkers guides to follies, prospect towers and architectural curiosities of Lancashire and Yorkshire published by Cicerone back in 1994. But there was a third volume in the pipeline that was not taken up for publication – The Follies of Peakland and the surrounding area. Now, revised and updated here it is. As with the previous guides,each folly is the highlight of a ramble from your car. Detailed maps and directions are provided, together with an informative and sometimes amusing narrative, which discusses not only the follies but local history, topography and places of interest encountered en route. The book is written with families in mind and many of the walks will delight youngsters. Apart from the follies accessible to the public, a gazetteer lists additional follies and offers a useful bibliography. This book is both a practical guide and a useful reference book for anyone with an interest in 'rogue architecture'.